Earl's Seat

Earl’s Seat stands 578 metres above sea level in the Campsie Fells, a range of rolling hills in central Scotland. The summit lies on the county line between Stirling and East Dunbartonshire, high above the village of Strathblane. An Ordnance Survey trig point marks the highest point, a simple concrete pillar used by surveyors. The surrounding plateau is covered with heather and rough grass, typical of the moorland that stretches across the range. On clear days the views stretch west to Ben Lomond and east to the Ochil Hills. The Campsies themselves form a long whale-backed ridge running north to south. The hill is the highest point in the Campsie Fells, giving it a modest but satisfying prominence. Walkers often start from Strathblane or from the car park at Auchenreoch. The ascent is steady rather than steep, climbing through woodland and open moor. The trig point sits on a small knoll that offers a 360-degree panorama. On the northern horizon the peaks of the Highlands appear, while to the south the Campsies roll away in long green waves. At the top a simple stone shelter stands beside the trig point, offering a place to rest out of the wind. The plateau around the summit is wide and open, with no fences or barriers. Visitors can follow faint paths that wander across the heather, heading towards neighbouring tops such as Meikle Bin. The silence is broken only by the cry of curlews and the rustle of wind through the grass. On winter days the summit can be dusted with snow, while summer brings swathes of purple heather in bloom.